thedailytimes.com : Your 24/7 news source

In addition to the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, the Oconaluftee Indian Village and the “Unto These Hills” outdoor drama, there is a variety of things to do for fun in Cherokee. Adventure seekers and nature lovers alike will enjoy the excellent variety of camping, fishing, kayaking, cycling and hiking options that abound in Cherokee, particularly in summer and fall.

Camping

Strategically located at the southern entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee has been offering some of the best camping areas for visitors since the first fur trappers set foot in the region over 300 years ago — fortunately, the facilities have been updated along the way. There are numerous camping locations to suit every type of modern-day adventurer from backpackers to RV travelers.

A few campground suggestions are:
Cherokee Campground (828.497.9838)
Wolfe Campground (828.497.9868)
Bradley’s Campground (828.497.6051)
Yogi in the Smokies (828.497.9151)
Great Smoky Mountain RV Camping Resort (828.497.2470)

Please call ahead for seasonal openings and reservations.

Fun on the river

For untold centuries, the streams and rivers of the Great Smokies have provided the Cherokee people with a bountiful source of food. Today, the 30 miles of streams on the Cherokee Indian Reservation provide both food and fun for serious and amateur anglers. Regular stocking of the streams is the responsibility of Cherokee Fish and Game Management that adds nearly 400,000 trout each year to an existing population of fish swimming in the crystal-clear mountain waters.

For chilling thrills on a warm summer afternoon, nothing beats rafting or kayaking down the rapids of a cool mountain stream and the Smokies offer some of the best water to do it, including the Oconaluftee River in Cherokee, Deep Creek near Bryson City, and the Tuckaseegee River in Cullowhee. There are degrees of difficulty available from “family” to “expert.”

Here are some suggested outfitters that can assist you in the tubing or whitewater adventure you have been seeking:
Indian Summer Gifts & Tube Rentals (866.317.2975)
Wildwater Ltd. Rafting, (800.451.9972)
Nantahala Outdoor Center (888.905.7238),
Blue Ridge Outing Company 800.572.3510 (www.raftwithkids.com).

Mountain biking





For those seeking a higher degree of challenge, cycling is a popular yet demanding sport in the Smokies, an area where just about all biking is mountain biking, since there's very little flat terrain. Western North Carolina's Smoky Mountains offer road biking opportunities rarely found elsewhere. A broad network of back roads will take you rolling through rustic Appalachian communities, over high passes, past rushing waterfalls and along the shores of mountain lakes.

Some of the best-known Smoky Mountains mountain biking trails are the famous Tsali trails, overlooking Fontana Lake just west of Cherokee. Named after the 19th century Cherokee Indian martyr, the 42-mile network of multi-use trails offers a variety of challenges, from mild to extreme.

Hiking

We have all heard that the best things in life are free, but not necessarily easy, and hiking is the perfect example of this philosophy. Cherokee offers a hiker’s paradise, with sights and sounds sure to stimulate anyone’s senses. Mingo Falls, called Big Bear Falls in the Cherokee language, cascades two hundred feet nearly straight down past granite boulders and rhododendron shrubs – one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the mountains. But you must hike up to meet it — 161 rough-hewn steps built along the rushing creek that descends from the falls. The Great Smoky Mountains scenery is year-round, but abounds with activities for all in the summer.

For more information and discount ticket packages to attractions and events, please visit www.cherokee-nc.com or call the Cherokee Welcome Center at 800-438-1601.